CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test (Operatives) — Practice
Fire prevention and control: practice questions
Our CITB HS&E Operatives bank has 22 questions on this topic. Here are 5 of them with answers; the full mock exam draws from every topic, like the real one.
Question 1
What three things make up the fire triangle?
- Fuel, heat and oxygen
- Fuel, water and smoke
- Heat, light and carbon dioxide
- Oxygen, nitrogen and steam
Show the answer
A. Fuel, heat and oxygen — Removing any one of fuel, heat or oxygen will put out a fire.
Question 2
Why must oil or grease never be used on oxygen cylinder valves?
- They make the valve too slippery to turn by hand
- They block the flow of gas
- They wash off the cylinder colour
- Oil and grease can ignite violently in oxygen
Show the answer
D. Oil and grease can ignite violently in oxygen — Oxygen under pressure reacts violently with oils and greases.
Question 3
Fire doors on a building under construction should be:
- Propped open to help airflow
- Removed until the building is finished
- Kept closed and never wedged open
- Locked so no one can go through
Show the answer
C. Kept closed and never wedged open — Fire doors hold back fire and smoke only when closed.
Question 4
How should gas cylinders such as LPG and acetylene normally be stored and used?
- Lying flat so they cannot roll
- Upright and secured so they cannot fall
- Upside down to keep the valve clean
- In the back of a closed van overnight for security
Show the answer
B. Upright and secured so they cannot fall — Cylinders should be upright and secured; acetylene in particular must be used upright.
Question 5
You find a small fire you have been trained to deal with. What should you do first?
- Fight it alone without telling anyone
- Raise the alarm
- Go and look for the site manager
- Open windows to clear the smoke
Show the answer
B. Raise the alarm — Raise the alarm first so others are warned and help is called, then tackle it only if safe and trained.